Detroit Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler unloaded a series of grievances against Angel Hernandez on Tuesday, one day after the veteran umpire ejected him for arguing balls and strikes. Speaking to reporters, Kinsler said that Hernandez, who has been a major league umpire since 1993, "needs to re-evaluate his career choice" because he's "messing with baseball games." "I'm surprised at how bad an umpire he is," Kinsler said, according to the The Detroit News. "I don't know how, for as many years he's been in the league, that he can be that bad. He needs to re-evaluate his career choice, he really does. Bottom line. "If I get fined for saying the truth, then so be it. He's messing with baseball

CHICAGO -- Major League Baseball is having conversations with the players' association over possible rule changes designed to speed the pace of play, and Commissioner Rob Manfred said Thursday he hopes to reach an agreement instead of implementing any measures unilaterally. Manfred also said the Bruce Sherman-led ownership group trying to purchase the Miami Marlins has presented the league with a financial structure that would work for finalizing the deal, and he expressed confidence that a major league franchise can be successful in the market. The average time of a nine-inning game is a record 3 hours, 5 minutes this season, up from 3 hours last year and 2:56 in 2015, Manfred's first season as commissioner.

ARLINGTON, Texas At his core, Justin Verlander is not complex. Sure, there are the realities that have become embedded in the Detroit Tigers ace right-hander's personality: the baseball fame and the more famous fiancee, the mega millions salary and the life in the limelight, which can easily distract from the down-to-earth demeanor that is often visible inside the Tigers clubhouse. But the Verlander that was shown after Tuesday night's 10-4 loss to the Texas Rangers, and the place he finds himself professionally these days, can only be described as complex. And at the heart of the matter is one of the things he cares about most: Winning. Perhaps it was the absence of television cameras, which